Topeka ? The Free State High boys basketball squad finished its season just as it had finished games all year – falling short after a late spurt.

The Firebirds lost to Topeka High, 61-57, on Thursday in the opening round of Class 6A sub-state competition.

“We played a really good game, and we played at a really high level,” FSHS coach Chuck Law said. “I was really, really happy with how we played. Sometimes the breaks fall your way, and sometimes they don’t. But I could not be more happy with our kids and how they competed and how they played tonight.”

With 20 seconds remaining in the final period, the teams were deadlocked at 57. But Topeka’s Chris White-Ready – who the Firebirds largely had shut down thanks to the defense of Weston Wiebe – showed why he was the Trojans leading scorer by dropping in the go-ahead shot.

At the other end, Free State’s Christian Ballard missed a midrange shot that White-Ready rebounded. White-Ready immediately was fouled, and he hit both free throws to clinch the victory for Topeka.

“Not one shot is going to win the game – White-Ready’s shot didn’t win the game for them, and Christian missing that shot certainly didn’t lose the game for us,” Free State’s Kyle Schreiner said. “It’s just key plays here and there – a shot in the first half that goes in or doesn’t go in, matters just as much as the two at the end of the game.”

The Firebirds, who were up by six in the second quarter, trailed by seven going into the final period. Free State shot out of the gate, scoring the first nine points of the quarter. The score would flip-flop throughout the closing minutes.

“We had some good looks and good opportunities, but sometimes they just don’t fall,” said the Firebirds’ Nick Devin, who had 10 points and a team-high 10 assists.

It was fitting a pair of free throws clinched the game, as FSHS shot just 9-for-17 from the stripe in the second half and 10-for-19 for the game.

“We hit two more shots in there, or hit a few more free throws, and its a different ballgame,” a blank-faced Devin said.

FSHS made just one trey to the Trojans’ six.

“We’re a lot better from 17 feet anyway, so us jacking a lot of threes just gets them a lot easier rebounds,” Devin said, “because we are definitely not going to be as consistent right now as they are from the three-point line. Our game plan is never to really shoot a bunch of threes or anything, but we just didn’t get out on the perimeter shooting (defensively).”

Schreiner was the key offensive contributor for Free State, coming off the bench to score a team-high 16.

“We knew having Kyle back this game – when we didn’t have him the first time – was going to make a difference,” Law said. “His ability to knock down shots really kept us in the game at times. I was really happy with how he played and how he played the last few games of the year. And that, hopefully, is a harbinger of things to come next year.”